Richmond County State Court Judge David D. Watkins signed an order Thursday to have Christopher Nicholson jailed.

Nicholson had until noon Thursday to comply with Watkins’ order. Instead, Nicholson filed a motion seeking a bond that is required when one is seeking to have a judgment set aside. The motion states Nicholson is 64 years old and has just had cataract surgery.

Nicholson had not been arrested as of late Thursday.

On Tuesday, Watkins found Nicholson in contempt of court and sentenced him to 20 days in jail and fined him $500. The jail time was suspended, however, if Nicholson agreed to 20 days of house arrest with electronic monitoring, and Watkins wrote in his order that he would suspend the house arrest if Nicholson wrote apologies to his client, a prosecutor and the officer who arrested his client. Watkins also gave Nicholson the option of making a $500 donation to charity instead of paying the fine.

The judge had ordered Nicholson to appear in court Tuesday to show cause for why he shouldn’t be held in contempt for walking out on a client in the middle of a trial Aug. 2.

Watkins was presiding over the Aug. 2 bench trial for Matthew Dunham, who was charged with speeding and driving under the influence on June 9, 2010. Watkins said Nicholson made inappropriate remarks when the judge didn’t rule in his favor on a motion. Then Nicholson spoke with the arresting officer, Cpl. Bonnie Kalbskopf, who was a trial witness, and afterward made some remarks to Assistant State Court Solicitor Kelly McIntyre, Watkins said.

Dunham, who was convicted, has hired an attorney to replace Nicholson. A motion for a new trial has been filed.

Nicholson filed a motion seeking Watkins to recuse himself, contending the judge was biased against him. Nicholson also alleged that unlike two other black jurists, Watkins, who is black, would talk “street” in his courtroom.

Watkins denied the motion to recuse.

Nicholson, who has practiced law since June 1974, also wrote that the comment he made to McIntyre was before court when he told her that his father loaned her father-in-law the money to buy his first home. She exploded, Nicholson wrote, when he later asked her how she could prosecute such a poor case against his client.

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Chris may need to be tested for Diabetes. We have Known Chris for many years, he did say he had a medical condition and we think he really does.
Thank you David for your wise ruling to give Chris options so he can continue seeking medical help without billing it to the taxpayers.

Oh goodness people, are you really going to use the "twinky" defense? Sounds like this Nicholson guy may not have all of his marbles and maybe he should not be practicing law. I know plenty of people with diabetes who don't act crazy like this.

Vito45, you are correct about the early stages of disabetes. If can and does cause erratic behavior. Emerydan, you might know plenty of people with diabetes that don't act irrational but my bet is they are on the correct medication

I know a close individual whose sugar got out of wack and he started dancing around the house singing songs and acting inappropriately. When the medics finally got there and got his sugar back in normal range, he didn't remember what he had done and was totally embarassed.

Wiorked with another individual who would fly off the handle at the slightest of thing when normally he was an easy going mild person. We always knew when to get him some kind of juice to balance him out.

Emerydan, do some research and then reflect on who sounds like a jerk. Whether this was Mr. Nichols issue or not, I don't know but the man has been practicing law for 37 years. I'm sure his behavior is out of the norm or he would have been disbarred a long time ago.

a lot of people have driven a car for more than 60 years.. doesn't mean they should be driving a car when they no longer possess the mental and physical faculties to do so. This appears to be a pretty egregious incident.

This was taken from a site on Diabetes. I'd include the link but every time I do, the AC refuses to post my comments.

Emotions and blood sugars are a two way street. Understanding their relationship can help in your blood sugar control. The brain controls the secretion of various stress hormones that can interfere with insulin's effectiveness. On the other hand, when high or low levels of sugar reach the brain, the result may be impaired memory, anger, irritability, slowed thinking, or depression.

Well, I've tried to post several times with facts on behavior, which includes anger, concerning diabetes, and my post keeps getting held. I reword it, rephrase it, they still won't post it. Why, I don't have a clue. I give up. It's been over 40 mins. and they still have not posted it.

corgimom, just because you are under a doctor's care does not mean that your sugar will never get out of balanced. My friend wears a pump 24/7 but if proper diet is not maintained, sugar levels can still get unbalanced and behavior changes can occur.

I believe scorehouse may be right, seems there may be bad blood between several parties involved.